Teat cup



May 5, 1942. H. o. BERNDT TEAT CUP Filed April 1, 1940 @m5/Ew@ lilllhPatented May 5, 1942 OFFICE TEAT CUP Hugo O. Berndt, Hartford, Wis.,assignor to Harold H. Berndt, Hartford, Wis.

Application April 1, 1940, serial No. 327,101

11 Claims.

The invention relates generally to vacuum operated milking apparatus andmore particularly to improvements in teat cups.

Known types of teat cups are formed with an outer rigid casing shell andan inner flexible lining or iniiation element preferably made of pliablerubber. The ination element has its walls spaced from the walls of theshell and is suitably secured at its ends to the corresponding ends ofthe shell. While in use, the space inside the lining receives the teatof a cow inserted in its top end and its lower end is connected to themilking vacuum so that milk drawn or expressed from the teat is carriedaway. The annular space between the lining and the shell is connected,usually by a flexible hose, to a suitable pulsator apparatus wherebythrough regular withdrawal of atmosphere from said space and itsadmission thereto, said wall of the lining is caused to expand and thencontractl around and squeeze the teat and thus, with the combined actionof the vacuum suction on the teat, to eiect the milking operation.

Known types of teat cups also include a perforate diaphragm at the upperend of the inflation element which is intended to `seal the interior ofthe element when fitted over the teat. However all known diaphragmssqueeze the teat and when work or if initially pliable, they tend towarp or wrinkle and are drawn downwardly intermittently during themilking operation. This results in excessive pressure on the teat andcauses irritation.

Such known types of teat cups are highly objectionable because their usefails to facilitate fast, eiilcient milking. This condition is dueprimarily to the known fact that a cow cannot tolerate a pressure on itsteats greater than the atmospheric pressure. When a teat cup is fittedover a teat, the teat initially shrinks and after a moment it returns toand, because of internal pressure, enlarges beyonod its initialdiameter. Thus, an internal pressure greater than atmospheric pressureis present at the diaphragm opening and any excessive external pressuresuch as that above described is a source of irritation. The naturaltendency is for a cow to let down milk if not unduly irritated. However,if the pressure of the lining in a milking device or of the dia phragmis greater than the natural pressure within the udder during milking,the added discomfort distresses the cow and it will not let down themilk or will let down very little at a time. The amount of milk letdown, if any, under such circumstances is just enough to relieve thenatural pressure in the udder. When this condition exists the milkingdevice must be removed and the milking completed by hand.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a teatcup with structural features designed to insure an uninterrupted flow ofmilk during the operation of the milking apparatus.

Another object is to provide an inflation element with means to preventsqueezing or otherwise irritating the teat or udder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inflation element ofimproved construction.

Another object is to provide an inflation ele,- mentwith means to retainthe head or teat receiving end permanently expanded,

Another objectl is t0 provide an ination element with means to retainthe sealing ange or diaphragm taut and consequently prevents itscollapse.

Another object is to provide an improved teat cup assembly which is notexpensive to manufacture and is easy to assemble or disassemble.

Another object is to provide a teat cup of the type embodying means tofacilitate complete expression of all milk.

Another object is to provide a teat cup assembly with adjustable meansto compensate for progressive shortening of the conduit leading to thepulsating apparatus.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appearhereinafter as the description proceeds, will be more readily understoodfrom a` perusal of the following description; in which reference is madeto the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of the teat cup assembly.

Fig. 2 is a plan viewk of the head or teat receiving end.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a modified formof teat cup.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a teat cup havinga separable diaphragm cap.

Like numerals appearing in the description identify corresponding partsof the drawing.

Referring specifically to the structure i1lus` trated in Figs. 1 and 2,a cylindrical teat cup shell II, comprising a length of metal tubing,has a teat cup liner or rubber inflation element I2 mounted therein. Theinflation element` I2 includes an intermediate body portion I3terminating at its lower end in a relatively thick external flange I4.The outside diameter of the flange I4 is slightlygreater than the insidediameter of the shell II so that, whenin the assembled positionillustrated, the iiange I4 hermetically seals the lower end yci saidshell. If desired, suitable spaced annular beads or ridges I5 may beformed on the circumferential face of the flange I4 to increase thefriction between the opposed cylindrical surfaces.

The an'ge I4 terminates in a conduit communicates-at one end with thespace I'I inside the body portion I3 of the inflation element.

Its other end is connected by a detachable hose connection (not shown)to the milking vacuum.

. As illustrated, the annular wall I'Ia of the body ls whichV 2:4 alsoyremains stationary and does not pinch,

portion I2 is spaced from the shell II and tapers.`

inwardly to near its teat receiving end at which point it ares outwardlyto overlie the upper or head end of said shell. i A relativelywidepliable cylindrical collar I8 is formed integral with the upper endof the flared body wall and includes. an internal annular ange ordiaphragm I9, of such size as to leave an opening 2| to receive the teat.22. The diaphragm I9 preferably is spaced a short distance above thejuncture 23 of the flared'wall I'Ia with the collar I8. v

Because the entire inflation liner is made Qoi pliable.rubber, thecollar I8 and its associated yparts normally are smaller in diameterthen the diameter of the shell II. Consequently, the col-` -lar I8andthe said parts must be stretched prior to being iitted over the topedge of the shell. To this end, the collar I8 is of suicient width toprotrude a shortdistance above the plane of the diaphragm I9, to providea retaining wall 24 arranged toreceive a split expansion ring 25. The

ring 25 preferably is formed of spring steel and l..

it is forced inside the wall 24 into a position Itightly against the topface of the diaphragm` I9 as shown. As the diameter of the ring 25normally is greater than the inside diameter of the retaining wall 2'4,said wall is stretched outwardly annularly and. consequently thediaphragm I9 is drawn taut and its opening 2I is enlarged to` a sizethat will easilyreceive the teat andef- `fect a hermetic seal therewith.

Stretching of the upper. portion or retaining wall 24 of the collarconstrictsits annular lower lip'portion 26 so that it snugly embracesthe `upper marginal' edge of the'shell Il and consequently hermeticallyseals the upper end of the -annular space 21 which is connected to apulsatf' ing machine through a flexible hose 28 and a tubular tting 29..The tting 29 is suitably enlarged atits lower exposed end 3| to snuglyreceivethe hose 28, and its stem portion 32 extends through 'an'openingin the flange I4 into the .space 21.

In known types of milking apparatus the hose V28 frequently breaks o atits connection with the teat cup, thus necessitating replacement.

'Replacement cost is minimized in the present inn stance by the longtting 29 which can be progressively withdrawn from the annular space 2'Ito compensate for portions of the `hose which break oi. This arrangementis particularly advantageous because replacement hose is distributed instandard lengths and a new one need notbe installed until the fitting 29has been with drawn to position its inner open end substantially in theLplane of the inside face of the ange I4,

`In operation, the milking vacuum is turned on `and the open end or headof the teat cup is slippedover the teat until the retaining wall 24 ,ofI,the collar IS abutts the udder substantially as illustrated in dottedlines in Fig. 1. The Vacuum "rub or otherwise irritate the udder.

` termittently evacuate the annular space 21 of substantially all rofits atmosphere, the cylindrical wall I'Ia, of the inflation memberexpands outwardly and then returns to its normal position withoutpinching the teat. This action is effected by having a greater negativepressure within the annular space 2l than is present Within theinflation element.

It is to be noted that the present structure, featuring the split ringand the flared inilation element, is such that the-udderv and teat arenever pinched or irritated. This is effected, as to the ination elementVliner body I3 by the enlargement of its lower end. That featuredistinquishes from most known liners .which converge at their lower endto limit inward movement of the teat due to the ever present suction andconsequently remain a source of constant irritation. With respect to thediaphragm and the upper portion of theV liner, pinching and irritatingare avoided by locating the tensioned split ring 25 immediately abovethe diaphragm. It is evident therefore, that thev flow of blood throughthe teat and udder is not restricted and said parts do not swell.Accordingly, the flow of milk is not at any time restricted butcontinues to, flow in a steady stream untilthequarter is completely dry.

The modied structure shown in Fig. 3 is, in al1 essentials,substantially like that illustrated in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, thesplit tension ring 25 is moulded or otherwise embedded within are: thenturned downwardly as at 32.

the upper wall portion 24. of the collar I3, the

plane of its lower edge being substantially in the plane of the topsurface of the diaphragm I9. consequently, it has the same effecten thecollar I8 as the split ring illustrated in Fig. l; its function being tohold the diaphragmr I9 taut and to stretch the entire head end of theliner.

Y Fig. 4 shows a separablecollar I8a which is designed primarily as areplacement element for certain existing types of teat cups. As shown,the walls Ila of the inflation element flare outwardly over the upperend of the shell II and The collar .88a (which is. constructed like thatshown in Fig. 1)V is, in this instance, tted tightly over the vsaid bodybeing slightly larger in diameter at one end than at thefother, anexternal collar on the reduced end of said body, an annular lip on oneedge `of said collar adapted to overlie said end of the shell, `aninternal annular flange spaced inwardly from ythe other' edge of Ysaidcollar, and a split ring carried in said collar adjacent the outsideface of said internal flange to expand said collar and retain the angetaut.

2. In a teat cup including a cylindrical shell, an inflation elementcarried within said shell comprising a substantial tubular body, anexternal sealing flange integral with one end of said body adapted tofit snugly within one end of said shell, a collar integral with theother end of said body, a sealing lip on said collar adapted to overlieand embrace the other end of said shell, an internal annular flange insaid collar inwardly of its free end, and an expansion ring carried insaid collar adjacent the outside face of the internal flange, said ringretaining the collar under tension to stretch and hold the internal angetaut.

3. A teat cup comprising, in combination, a rigid cylindrical shell, aflexible inflation element carried within said shell having acircumferential collar on its upper end, said collar including aninternal diaphragm of substantially uniform thickness and acircumferential lip on its lower edge to embrace one end of said shell,and an expansion ring carried in said collar above the top surface ofthe diaphragm to hold said diaphragm substantially taut.

4. A teat cup comprising, in combination, a rigid cylindrical shell, aflexible inflation element carried Within said shell having acircumferential collar at its upper end, said collar including adiaphragm, a lip on the lower edge of said collar arranged to embraceone end of said shell, and an expansion ring carried in said collarabove the top surface of the diaphragm for expanding the upper portionof the collar to hold the lip tightly around said shell.

5. In a teat cup, the combination of, an infiation element having a teatreceiving end, an internal annular fiange adjacent said end, said flangehaving a substantially uniform thickness, and an expansion elementlocated between said end and said iiange to retain the flange taut.

6. In a teat cup, an inflation element liner having a teat receivingend, an internal annular flange in said element defining a flexiblediaphragm spaced inwardly from said end, and a split ring carried insaid element between said flange and said end, said ring expanding theteat receiving end and retaining said flange taut.

7. The combination with a cylindrical teat cup shell, of a rubberinflation element carried by the shell comprising a tubular liner havingits upper end formed with a collar, said collar including acircumferential lip extending below the juncture of the body of theliner and the collar to overlie one ened of said shell, a flexibleinternal annular flange in said collar, and an expansion ring carried insaid collar above said fiange to expand that part of the flange abovesaid juncture and impart rigidity to said internal flange.

8. In a teat cup having a rigid tubular shell and a flexible inflationelement therein, a substantially iirm exible collar at the teatreceiving end of said element, an internal annular flange ofsubstantially uniform thickness in said collar, said flange beinglocated substantially midway between the edges of said collar, a splitexpansion ring on the top face of the flange arranged to engage and urgethe collar outwardly to stretch and retain said flange taut at alltimes, and a lip on the bottom edge of said flange to embrace andoverlie one end of the shell.

9. The combination with a cylindrical teat cup shell having an inflationelement arranged therein to dene with said shell a sealed annular spaceadapted to have its atmosphere exhausted at ragular intervals, of atubular conduit fitting having one end portion slidably mounted in saidelement and communicating with said space, said fitting beinglongitudinally adjustable to vary the length `of the end portionextending from said element.

l0. The combination .with a cylindrical teat cup shell having aninflation element arranged therein, said shell and element defining asealed annular space, of a tubular conduit tting having one endextending through said 4elem-ent into said space, and a flange on theexposed end of said fitting adapted to receive a flexible conduitthereover, said fitting being longitudinally adjustable in said elementto vary the length of the exposed portion of said fitting.

11. The combination with a teat cup shell having an iniiation elementarranged therein, said shell and element dening a sealed space, of aconduit fitting mounted with one end extending into said space and beingadapted to receive a exible conduit on its exposed other end; saidfitting being longitudinally adjustable in its mounting to vary thelength of the exposed portion of said fitting.

HUG() O. BERNDT.

